Chapter 3

Otis still unaware of Shane's sacrifice attempt, had led him into the house to eat what was left of their dinner. Rick was the only one there to make sure they all returned and had an adequate portion. Rick let Shane and Otis know how thankful he was, and Hershel arrived to the dining room. "I see you've got the perfect amount, this'll do well. Now has anyone seen Maggie and Derrick?" Hershel fumbled Daryl's name in that question. That was humorous to Rick, he peeked out the window to see them beside his camp. They seemed very engaged in whatever was going on. " 'Daryl' and Maggie, are out by the tent" Rick answered. Hershel seemed a bit worried, his daughter was getting very attached to the dangerous hunter of their group. For all he knew about this man, he could just be her predator. 'Wait, snap out of it! They lost a girl and this man seems to have no real intentions on my daughter' Hershel thought as he was fighting an internal battle. Shane had disappeared to the bathroom to shower, and Otis to his own room. Shane had intense thoughts as to what to do about the situation, he knew Daryl saw. Did he have to sweet talk Daryl out of opening his mouth, or would he have to kill his ass? He knew both were a large challenge but he was a greedy bastard, and this world changed him.

Shane had slipped out of the bathroom into his room with the thought unleashing the animal within him. He had a new problem and staying up all night plotting would have him beat the next day. He decided to try and sleep, then think in the morning.

Daryl and Maggie had been sitting face to face at his camp. Him facing the woods and her facing the house. The fire growing between them caused less tension as Daryl was finding the right words to say. She seemed to have a more worried look plastered on her face than intended. And then Daryl decided to speak up finding how to start a heavy conversation.

"I been thinkin', maybe you should keep this to yurself til' I get a hold a' Rick on this case" Daryl said softly. Maggie played a mental guessing game for a couple of moments and finally said "I have no one to tell." Daryl mumbled a little, this wasn't like him. He was a fierce strong hunter who most people feared. But this was a murder attempt and he didn't want to freak her out by telling her that her uncle could've died of he hadn't showed up. But eventually, he blurted the words out. "Ya' can't trust Shane Maggie, and you can't leave your people alone with him. Especially at a high risk situation like with tha' other man." "What are you talking about Daryl!?" "That asshole tripped em' up right when I showed up..if I hadn't shown up the bastard woulda killed im'. Had ta stick a bolt in that walker getting' em and Shane knows I saw him." Maggie covered her mouth with one hand, this asshole was gonna murder her uncle!? "I don't even know what to say.." She answered in the worst expression he'd seen her give off. "You don't gotta say nothin', I ain't gon' let em hurt anyone here." Daryl said honestly,fiercely and to her it meant everything. A now teary eyed Maggie shifted into Daryl's warmth slowly. She wrapped her arms around his waist and dug her head into the left side of his muscular hardened chest. He knew she needed to be consoled so he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and the other tangled in her hair. He'd never hugged anyone since the Turn, And he felt tense but decided to do what it takes to make her feel comfortable.

Glenn had been by well with an acoustic guitar he'd found on the highway, T-Dog had left him for sleep a while ago. Beth took the opportunity to approach him since he looked so embarrassed when she's look at him. She felt dominant so she stopped by the well, "hi" she said a bit shyly but bright. He felt his cheeks burning up, "Uh hi" he said like he was the girl, so girlishly. She looked at him like she was waiting for something, "oh uh I my…" He slapped himself mentally. "Glenn's my name" he finally managed. "I'm Beth" she said jovially, "That is a beautiful name" he said honestly and it was so true, he loved that name. Now she felt heat rush up to her cheeks, and he grinned at that. "Thank you" she smiled wildly still a bit embarrassed. "Nice guitar Glenn, it's in great condition" Beth stated impressed. Glenn felt so accomplished, "Thanks, Dale actually found it on the highway. I'm not really good at playing" he said honestly. "Well lucky for you I've been playing guitar and piano for a while." She said over confidently. "Oh well maybe you can teach me?" Glenn asked unsure. "Of course, stop by here tomorrow, same time. Okay, I gotta go Glenn, bye" she said and smiled at him again before leaving. Hershel saw the whole thing go down, and now he has another daughter to worry about. "Love sick children" he muttered sort of happily but exasperated.

Maggie and Daryl pulled out of the embrace when she was able to manage the tears. "Thank you" Maggie said a bit shaky. "For what?" He asked unsure. "Everything tonight, about Shane. I know you aren't touchy but you made a worlds difference for me" she said and smiled widely when se saw him blush a bit. He choked out a 'you're welcome' and shifted. "I'm going back in now, I'll see ya' later?" She asked hoping for the right answer."Yeah sure I'll clear my to-do list" he joked cracking a smile and earning a wide one from her. "Yay! Alright good Night" she said cheerily and tapped his shoulder and turned to the house. "Night" he coughed out when she turned to give him a nice view of her ass and her hips swaying. 'Damn', was all he could process.

Maggie entered the house to see Hershel standing in the hallway. "What? I was just talking to Daryl!" She tried explaining as quick as possible. "I understand that but you gotta keep your eye out for these people, I haven't approved of them officially yet so I don't want you two to go wandering off alone for now" Hershel said calm but sternly. "No! We aren't like that daddy! He's my friend and we were just talking about our run. I swear!" Maggie fumbled. "I'm sure you were honey just don't get comfortable with him" Hershel tried as he kissed her head and walked up to his own room. He knew what would end up happening between the two.

Rick walked off the front steps to meet Daryl, as most of the group was asleep. "Hey " Rick called to him. "How're you doing out here? You know you can stay inside Daryl." Daryl was a man who loved to be outside, it was the one thing he loved: The wilderness. Rick could tell but it would never hurt to ask. Nah I'm fine but there's sumthin' I gotta let cha know." Rick stared a little worried that Daryl had something to tell him. Daryl told Rick about the whole Shane situation and Rick got tense. "How could he? I can't believe yet Daryl, I'm sorry. I know I can trust you but Shane's done a lot and seeing is believing." Rick said apologetically. "Don't hav' ta believe me just watch your ass and I suggest not lettin' him alone wit' no one" Daryl said defiantly. Rick nodded with his signature thinking cap on. "Night Daryl". He received a nod from Daryl and headed into the house. He believed Daryl to the fullest truthfully but was goin steady.

Rick sat next to an unconscious Carl, who should be operated on in the morning. He shifted uneasily in the chair staring into blank space. He knew Daryl was right, and anyone he told would believe him. It was only right to tell Rick first which made Rick believe him even more. Shane was willing to cross all limits at all times, and Rick didn't want to be banished and live on the road with a crazy man. Yes, he'd have to talk to Shane and get him to open up. To confess slowly, and mend his ways of things would get ugly. He reached for Carl's hand and held onto it like Carl was the last thin he needed to protect. He wanted to see his son's smile again.

And of course Lori, Shane gave her looks and he wouldn't be surprised if Shane was with her behind his back. Rick let out a long sigh, "it'll get better, it'll all be better" Rick muttered to himself.

Maggie's eyes cracked open from the sun's glare directly at her. "Ugh", she said uneasily as she decided to take a shower in 5 minutes. She decided to take a minute to look out the window only to see Daryl at his camp. She could only see him through her window since they were the only ones at the far left side of the house. She looked through the transparent side showing his face mainly his head, he was shirtless. 'God' she thought, he had an amazing body and large rough muscles. He looked like an angel curled up with his pillow, and his eyes suddenly bolted open. It looked like he had a nightmare through her eyes and that was when she decided to step in the shower. There was one bottle of Garnier Fructis left so she decided she would want to go to the pharmacy later as she stripped herself bare and stepped into the shower. After about an hour, Maggie stepped out of the bathroom and was squeaky clean. Daryl on the other hand took fast showers, soap himself up and down bare and rinse off. Put some shampoo in his hair, and roughly scrub it off. He had actually finished before her, using a water bucket and bar of soap outside by the stable. Maggie stepped into the kitchen and made herself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a glass of milk. Something she hadn't eaten since she was a kid. She made a second one and grabbed what was left of the milk carton outside to where Daryl was leaning against the wall on the porch.

Shane was lying awake in bed for quite a while and wondered where life was taking him. He was stubborn and thought he was always right. He was a killer and a wife stealer. He decided to get one thing done, and that was meeting Daryl to see what he was planning on doing. He stopped a couple of feet seeing he was occupied with Maggie and turned back only to see T-Dog. "Hey what's up man?" T-Dog asked. Out of shock, Shane got defensive, "What're you doing?" He blurted without thought. "Just came down for a glass of water geesh. Are you alright man?" T-Dog questioned truly worried. Shane only nodded and walked past him upstairs. He heard a crying woman in the hallway. Carol, this was one way to skip slowly through this, sympathy. He walked in and sat beside her, and she was confused why he was there. "Hey Carol are ya' alright?" He asked with mock care for her. Carol wanted to talk but was at a loss for words, just crying. Shane gently rubbed her back and whispered optimistic terms to her. She muttered a small thank you and Shane stood. "I'll be in my room if you need me" he told her. She smiled at him and he slipped out of her room. 'Success' he thought. He'd have to eventually gain everyone's trust. Shane went down to the kitchen again to apologize to T-Dog for his paranoia. They got along very well. T-Dog gave a wide grin. 'That's two' he thought

Daryl heard Maggie step out of the screen door and was even more happy when he saw the lil' snack she made. "Hey" she said with a large smile plastered on her face. "Well hello there" he teased talking to the sandwich to get her riled up. She motioned for him to grab one and gave him the rest of the milk. "Thanks Maggie" he said happily, she nudged him and they shared a grin. "No problem" she mentioned. "By the way, I'm gonna be heading out to the pharmacy today and I was wondering if you'd like to come?" She asked sure of the answer. "I was gon' go hunting but sure just tell me when." He shrugged. "Okay, did you ever do anything about Shane?" She wondered. "I tol' Rick he ain't doin' nothin' at the moment but eventually he'll find out, he always does." Maggie stared him up and down and he raised an eyebrow at her. "Like what cha see?" Daryl teased. She took the moment to tease him back, "How can I not?" She asked seductively with a sly smile. She saw he blushed and looked down for a second. She took a small step forward and tilted his chin smiling. "Just remember you started it" she teased some more and took a bite out of her sandwich. They had gotten close. Definitely.

Rick woke up with Andrea, Shane, Lori, and Hershel around he and Carl. It was time to get this over with and talk to Shane. Rick made up his mind and he would talk to him in at midday or evening the latest. It was going to be a long day for him.

Beth met Glenn by Carl's room and nearly bumped into him before he stopped her movements by firmly pressing his hands on her shoulders. "Oh sorry!" She shrieked embarrassed. Glenn could only manage a smile "It's alright, wanna go for a walk?" He asked and she enjoyed the feel of being around him too much to decline his offer. "Yes."

It took a couple of minutes for Daryl and Maggie to cool down from their tease battle and Maggie spoke up. "I was kind of thinking we should head out since I'm not busy and you don't look too occupied" she stated. "A'right let's leave then,shall we?" Daryl joked. Maggie smiled, "Let me tell my dad and we'll leave." After about five minutes she was ready and Daryl revved up his bike, "Hop on" he forced. He asked her to hop on, to ride with him and that hit her hard. In a good way. "Anytime you want" she teased as she whispered in his ear, and he choked a bit. She straddled the seat and wrapped her arms around his waist. Maggie snuggled up closer to his back and rested her head between his shoulders as he road off into the outside world.